## Chapter 21: How Could This Happen?
2014-06-18 Author: Gu Zhenren
Gongsun Wan’er sneered, looking at Chu Yun as if he were an ant beneath her feet.
“What are you, a rogue cultivator, worth? How dare you speak so arrogantly and challenge the prestige of a first-rate family!” Zhao Fei curled his lips, his face showing extreme disdain.
“This young man is finished. He has offended both the Gongsun and Zhao families. His future will be bleak and without glory,” someone lamented, shaking their head.
“Hmph, arrogance comes at a price. Now he doesn’t even have the qualifications to participate in the Hundred Families Alchemy Convention,” another gloated.
“However, this young lady from the Gongsun family is quite formidable with her words. She has cornered this brat in just a few sentences.”
“Heh! How can disciples of the great families be so simple?”
The crowd buzzed with chatter, all gathered to watch the spectacle.
Just then, the crowd was forcefully parted, and a middle-aged man, leading a group of people, strode powerfully towards Chu Yun.
“Damn it, what are you pushing for? Don’t you have eyes… Ugh!” Some of those shoved aside began to curse, but when they saw the group, their voices choked off like startled ducks.
“It’s the Hu family!”
“My heavens, it’s the seventh-ranked family, the Hu family. What are they doing here?”
“That’s the Hu Family Patriarch, Hu Jintao, the Eight Glory King! Young and promising, he now dominates a region, his fame immense. Every move he makes influences the entire landscape of Danzhou.”
Exclamations of awe rippled through the crowd.
Zhao Fei and Gongsun Wan’er’s expressions changed.
“Junior Zhao Fei greets Senior Eight Glory King!” Zhao Fei lowered his head, bowing subserviently with a fawning smile.
“Junior Gongsun Wan’er pays her respects to Senior, wishing you eternal life and boundless fortune, and to dominate Danzhou.” Gongsun Wan’er smiled sweetly, her words as smooth as honey.
The Hu family was recognized as one of the top ten overlords of Danzhou, consistently ranking in the top ten of the Hundred Families Alchemy Convention. Their foundation was deep, and their power vast. Compared to the Hu family, both the Gongsun and Zhao families were like children at the feet of an adult.
They could not afford to offend them, nor would they dare.
Moreover, Hu Jintao was a legendary figure of contemporary renown. He was ruthless in his methods, strong in his actions, astonishing in his achievements, and cold-blooded and merciless.
The Hu Family Patriarch did not exude his King level spiritual pressure, yet his iron-like, indifferent expression alone made everyone present feel a sense of oppression. The very air seemed to solidify, making them feel suffocated.
This man’s aura was truly too powerful!
Hu Jintao did not even spare a glance at Gongsun Wan’er or Zhao Fei. He walked directly past them.
He stopped before Chu Yun, his face filled with extreme solemnity and sincerity. He cupped his hands towards Chu Yun and said, “I am the Hu Family Patriarch. I sincerely invite Young Master Wuming to join our family’s team. Our family is willing to reserve the position of the first main force for you.”
A deathly silence fell over the entire scene.
Everyone’s jaws dropped!
“What is going on? Did I hear that wrong?” this was the sentiment of the vast majority.
The Patriarch of the seventh-ranked family in Danzhou, the magnificent Eight Glory King, was actually referring to himself as “I”? He had personally come to invite an unknown young man. And this young man was the one who had just been kicked out of a team, having lost his chance to participate in the Hundred Families Alchemy Convention.
More importantly, the Eight Glory King had personally promised to hand over the position of the first main force to this young man.
Shock, apprehension, and confusion – strong emotions assaulted everyone’s hearts.
They couldn’t understand!
What on earth was happening?!
Chu Yun turned his head thoughtfully, his gaze drifting into the distance.
“Ah! Brother, he’s looking over here!” Yun Xiaoai’s beautiful eyes widened, her surprised expression as lovely as ever.
“He actually noticed us,” Yun Baishen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing on his lips as he nodded at Chu Yun from within the crowd.
Those who were closely watching Chu Yun’s reaction were so stunned their heads began to spin.
“What is this young man’s background? The dignified Eight Glory King is before him, yet he can afford to be distracted, acting so unconcerned and indifferent?!”
The Hu Family Patriarch’s heart trembled even more.
Others could only see Chu Yun looking into the distance, but he knew who Chu Yun was actually looking at – the eldest young master of the Yun family, Yun Baishen!!
Even though he was a King level expert and held a high position, controlling the seventh force in Danzhou, Hu Jintao knew his own limitations.
The eight hidden great families were an open secret among the higher echelons of Danzhou. The common people were unaware, but how could Hu Jintao not know? The higher one’s status, the more they understood the terror of the eight hidden great families!
These eight great families were connected to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of Danzhou. Each family could crush ten Hu families with just a little finger. With a little help, they could elevate a lowly small family to the status of a first-rate family in Danzhou.
The Hu family was an example. In the past, the Hu family’s ancestor had gained the favor of a high-ranking member of the Yun family, which led to the Hu family’s current status and situation. The Hu family was a beneficiary of the Yun family’s support, even a puppet.
However, as a puppet, the Hu Family Patriarch harbored no dissatisfaction; instead, he was proud of it.
Which of the top ten families in Danzhou did not have the shadow of a hidden family behind them? To gain the favor of a hidden family was a testament to one’s own capability!
Chu Yun was about to be forced out of the Hundred Families Alchemy Convention, and Yun Baishen naturally did not want to see this happen. Therefore, he summoned the Hu Family Patriarch and gave him specific instructions.
It was the first time he had personally met Yun Baishen, and the Eight Glory King was overjoyed.
He had long heard of Yun Baishen’s great name. At such a young age, he was already at the peak of the King level, with a cultivation higher than his own. He was also a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, undoubtedly the foremost among the younger generation of the eight great families.
There were even informal rumors that Yun Baishen was likely one of the five candidates for the Yun Family Patriarch. Regardless, even if he didn’t become the Yun Family Patriarch, he would certainly become part of the Yun family’s highest leadership in the future.
The Eight Glory King knew that by establishing this connection, the Hu family could ensure prosperity and prosperity for hundreds of years.
Now, Yun Baishen had personally summoned him and asked him to do one thing: invite a young man to be the first main force.
“Invite!”
The Eight Glory King keenly remembered this important word.
Who was this person that the great Young Master Yun Baishen would use the word “invite”?
The Eight Glory King’s eyes gleamed, and he understood. He immediately made up his mind: no matter who this person was, no matter which team this young man was on, he, the Eight Glory King, would cast aside his pride and shamelessly beg, but he would definitely invite this young man and treat him with utmost respect.
“This young man is not simple.” Upon first meeting Chu Yun, the Eight Glory King was inwardly shaken.
Chu Yun’s attitude towards him was extremely casual, not feigned but an innate pride and nobility. The Eight Glory King’s mind raced.
This young man before him was very much like Yun Baishen. Could he be a young noble from one of the eight hidden great families? Bored, he had come to the Hundred Families Alchemy Convention incognito to play?
No wonder the great Young Master Yun valued him so highly and used the word “invite.”
Thinking this, the Eight Glory King managed to force a smile and said, his tone even more genial, “Young Master Wuming, please state any requirements you may have. I, on behalf of the Hu family, extend a warm welcome.”
Seeing this, the onlookers nearly popped their eyes out.
“The Eight Glory King is smiling! He’s actually smiling!”
“The Patriarch is notoriously unyielding. I’ve followed him for over a decade and have never seen him smile. Yet, he smiles at a young man.”
A hurricane of the twelfth magnitude seemed to sweep through their hearts; no one could remain calm.
This scene was too bizarre. The Eight Glory King was actually so sincere, even somewhat humbled, to invite a young man.
Chu Yun nodded at the Eight Glory King and leisurely agreed, “Since you are so thoughtful, then it shall be so. I will join the Hu family’s team.”
The crowd was dumbfounded.
Who exactly was this young man, to treat the Hu Family Patriarch so casually, so arrogantly?!
“Hahaha.” The Eight Glory King was overjoyed and quickly gestured with his hand, “The joining of Young Master Wuming is an honor for me, the Eight Glory King, and an honor for our Hu family. Please, this way.”
The crowd was utterly petrified.
It wasn’t until Chu Yun had left with the Hu family entourage for a long time that they reacted.
The crowd erupted like an explosion, buzzing with discussions.
“Was that Eight Glory King disguised?” someone still could not believe it.
“Unimaginable! This young man made the Eight Glory King treat him with such courtesy and hospitality… If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I couldn’t even imagine it!” someone exclaimed, rubbing their head.
“No wonder this young man dared to treat the Gongsun family like that. He absolutely has the backing for it,” someone realized with a sudden understanding.
“Who exactly is he? Even the heir of the first family wouldn’t warrant such a grand display from the Eight Glory King,” someone was utterly perplexed.
“Heh heh heh, the Gongsun family is finished, and the Zhao family is finished too. Even the Hu family has to tread carefully. What are those two families compared to him? They’ve offended such a major figure; their good days are numbered,” there were always people eager to see misfortune befall others.
Gongsun Wan’er’s face turned ashen, completely drained of color. The people behind her looked even worse, as if they were on their deathbeds.
No one had anticipated that the situation would change so quickly! So drastically!
Zhao Fei fared even worse. His legs trembled violently, and he could barely stand. His face was filled with panic, tension, shock, and despair.
“How could this happen? What should I do? How did it turn into this?!” he muttered incessantly, completely beside himself.
Gongsun Wan’er glanced at him, her disdain mixed with anger and a shared sense of miserable pity.
She had no intention of staying any longer, saying with extreme gravity, “Let’s go, we’re returning immediately. I need to confess my sin to my father!”
“What? What did you say! The Hu Family Patriarch personally invited Wuming, and his tone was extremely polite?” Upon hearing the report from her subordinate, Chen Yuqing couldn’t sit still either.
She leaped up from her chair. Her face was as pale as paper, her eyes filled with intense regret and fear.
It was her, from the Chen family, who had kicked Chu Yun out. If Chu Yun sought retribution later, the Chen family wouldn’t be able to protect her.
No, it was uncertain whether the Chen family would even exist.
(To be continued)
